How to tell a flower from a lemon

My Friday post about Lemonade Day (click here) gave me inspiration to answer one of the questions I had before starting here at Sun Valley:

How can you tell a flower from a lemon? (In other words, what makes a flower a quality flower?)

Now, I'm not talking about flower variety or arrangement style. I'm talking about how can you tell you're getting a flower, any flower, that's going to give you the optimal bang for your buck.

Here are some things to look for when trying to judge the quality of your flowers:

1. Size Matters
When looking at two flowers of the exact same variety, you can generally assume that the one with larger blooms and longer, thicker stems is of better quality. It most likely received the right mix of nutrients, water, sunlight and TLC to make it grow to its maximum potential. Just don't try to compare different flower varieties. This is unfair to the littler guys.


An orchid with Botrytis


2. What's that brown spot?
If you ever find yourself asking this question about a particular flower, run in the other direction! Unless, of course, the color is a characteristic of the flower. (Ask your florist on this one.) Brown spots could mean the flower has a mold, pests, mechanical damage, or a disease, such as botrytis.

3. How long it lasts
"Vase life" is something I didn't even know there was a term for a few months ago, and now it's something I hear about practically every day. Vase life simply means how long the flower lives after being cut. Each type of flower has a basic ballpark figure for longevity in the vase. (Click here for the vase life of Sun Valley's flowers.) If your flower lasts on the longer side of its expected vase life, it's good quality! Remember: you'll get to enjoy your flowers longer if you bring them home when they are still slightly closed. A wide-open flower is already more than halfway through its life cycle.

Personal side note on vase life: We all know cut flowers don't last as long as, say a puppy or other gifts, but sometimes when we know that we only have something for a short time, we appreciate it all the more while we have it.


Dyed blue roses can be a popular choice



4. Flower color isn't black and white

The flower color issue can actually be a tricky one. Overall, if the color of the flower appeals to you, then great! That's all that really matters. But some flowers out there are dyed to become a certain color, and well, if this doesn't matter to you, then it doesn't matter. But generally, a flower that reveals its true colors without the assistance of artificial dyes is probably your best bet if it's perfection you're seeking. Buyer be aware: several species of flowers, such as tulips, roses and gerberas, do not naturally grow in blue.

This lemon test can be applied to basically all flowers, but each individual species of flower has its own quality standards and potential sour spots. If ever you are unsure about what you're about to put in the vase, don't hesitate to ask your go-to floral expert, such as the local florist or your Mom. Aside from quality, the most important thing to remember when choosing a flower is to pick one that appeals the most to you, whether it's for sentimental reasons or for pure aesthetic attraction.


If Mom doesn't have all the floral answers, The Flower Expert Feed gives great information on a large variety of flowers. Here's the link: http://www.theflowerexpert.com/

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